Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success
John Stuart Mill · en
It is not an easy matter to do to others what you would they should do
unto you, when they are not following this rule themselves.
When Christ enunciated the Golden Rule in the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew 7, 12, he announced what is the law and the prophets.
“All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them.”
It is good morals and also contains a masterful business proposition.
The reason is, because it is a moral precept, and men are inextricably
mixed with morals in all their transactions.
We can not be guided in our actions by what other men do, except in a
general way, but every one must be dependent upon his own energies, and
be responsible for his own acts.
If we were to do as other men do to us, sometimes, we should be apt to
cause a breach of the peace or commit a murder. That is conceded. But
the persistent observation of this rule will bring all men around in
your favor.
There is reason and common sense to be observed, however, in the
observance of every moral precept. Thus: “Whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
This is good advice coming from the Great Master, but it is not
interpreted as meaning that your cheeks shall be turned toward the
smiter as long as he chooses to strike. There comes a time when the
precept has been complied with, and then let the smiter beware, for a
defense will be made.
We know what the Savior means in all His sayings. He inculcates peace if
we have to fight for it. So it is well to be guarded in our too rigid
observance of precepts, lest we fall into the contrary condition which
would deprive us of our manhood.
“Be strong and quit yourselves like men.”
Keep in Touch With God
The wisest man that ever lived says: “Remember now thy Creator in the
days of thy youth.”
The basis of a moral life is the remembrance of thy Creator. With this
in your memory you will be able to establish a moral character; without
it you can not have a moral life.
Below the nature of every man, the foundation of his nature, the
everlasting rock upon which it is built, is God. He can not be ignored
in any act, in any transaction. You may attempt to blot Him out, or
cover Him up out of the sight of your own intelligence, but He is there
always. He is your Creator, and the more you are in touch with Him, the
more responsive you are to His promptings, the higher your moral
character.
The old Pagans had no morality because they hid God from their own
hearts and understandings, and substituted gods of wood and stone.
They really worshipped themselves, for when a man casts out God there is
nothing but himself to worship.
The fact is, when men desire to lead immoral lives, or commit violations
of law of any kind, they begin by closing their eyes to God and
forgetting their Creator, and they say: “There is no Hell.”